EARLIEST Marked Grave in Hagansport Cemetery - Hagansport, TX - First of its Kind on Waymarking.com

Mrs. Terry is buried just outside the Terry plot in the back of the cemetery. Mr. Terry, his second wife, and a child are buried in the plot itself. Mrs. Terry's white marble headstone has a few pieces missing on the plinth, and while the top is quite weathered, it appears that there is a wreath and fern leaves as detail. The inscription is in relief, and reads:

Laura, Wife of
J.W. Terry

Born
Jun 13, 1870

Died
Mar. 28, 1887

He has called many a loved one.

-----

The historical marker provides some background:

Hagansport, once known as Becknal Gap, developed as an agricultural settlement in the mid- to late-19th century. In 1883, Jeptha A. and Sarah Elliott donated land to the community for a school, Methodist church and cemetery. The school, which expanded over the years, operated from 1876 until 1966. The Methodist congregation remained in Hagansport for a century -- from 1882 until 1982.

From the Elliotts' 1883 land donation grew the Hagansport Cemetery. The earliest marked grave belongs to Laura Terry, who died in 1887. The presence of many unmarked graves and burials noted only by stones or cement blocks indicate the hard lives of early area settlers. The types of burials and grave markers demonstrate Southern American traditions, including scraped and mounded graves; wood, metal and cement markers; and grave decorations.

Another surviving tradition is the annual decoration day and reunion, where community residents and descendants of those buried here congregate to clean and work at the cemetery, and to remember the contributions of their ancestors: business owners, lodge members, veterans, farmers, children and pioneers.

FIRST - Classification Variable: Person or Group Date of FIRST: 03/31/1887 More Information - Web URL: [Web Link]

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